Bombing victim Martin Richard remembered on 9th birthday

Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombings, would have turned 9 years old on Sunday.

To honor his memory, hundreds of family and friends gathered at St. Ann Church in Dorchester for a remembrance. Cameras were not allowed inside the church where Martin’s father, Bill, took to the podium to reflect on his young son’s life.

"I think it was a beautiful tribute. It was certainly emotional," said family friend Larry Marchese. "It started off with a wonderful tribute -- a father finding the strength to reflect not only on who his son was, but who his son would have become."

Friends said Martin was a loving child who always had a smile on his face.

"An emotional kid who was willing to tell you what he thought, and a loving, compassionate child who would always give a minute to another child in need," Marchese said.

Martin's family members were spectators on Boylston Street when the explosions occurred on April 15. Martin's mother, Denise, suffered a serious head injury and underwent surgery. Marchese said she continues to recover.

"She shows a lot of signs of being the Denise she's always been. And that is someone strong, a very dedicated, a very committed, a very protective mother," he said.

Martin’s younger sister, Jane, 7, also continues to recover at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown after losing a leg in the blast. She was able to make it to Sunday's Mass for her brother.

"She's been at Spaulding since, and she's working on the next phase of her life. She's learning balance, and she's learning strength," Marchese said.

The Rev. Sean Connor spoke with Jane as they sat on the altar, surrounded by about 100 other youngsters, many of them friends and classmates. He recalled that Jane's first words to him when he visited her at the hospital were, "Where have you been? You have to pray."

The two prayed for the nurses, doctors, first responders and for Martin. Connor said Jane told him that Martin "lives in my heart."

He advised the youngsters to read the rosary and pray at home with their parents to help ease the pain of Martin's loss.

"You teach your moms and dads to laugh and to love and that makes hope real for us," he said.

Bill Richard received shrapnel wounds and burns to his legs. He also suffered hearing loss. The family's oldest child, Henry, was not hurt.

The family waited until Martin’s birthday to hold the Mass as a way of dealing with the road to recovery.

"They waited on two fronts -- today would have been Martin's ninth birthday, which is very important to the family, to the parents especially. And also, the road to recovery is long and difficult. And it's taken this long for everybody to be here, and to be here comfortably," Marchese said.

Copyright 2013 by WCVB.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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